Step into a New Zone of Thinking (Second Edition): A Practical Handbook for Creative Thinking Training

Author: Liang Liangliang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Often, we encounter people who are dissatisfied with their current situation. They complain about the imperfections of the world, lament their unfulfilled talents, criticize their poor workplace and meager bonuses, and gripe about selfish colleagues and friends who refuse to help. They desire to change their circumstances and seek greater development, yet always feel powerless. In reality, each person possesses a treasure within them—a nearly forgotten treasure, that is, the human mind. The mind can think, thinking can generate creativity, and creativity can change the world—both the external and internal worlds. Take the time to mine this treasure that belongs to you, and you will surely reap unexpected rewards. Friends seeking self-development might as well give it a try!
### I. Humans Are Thinking Beings
Earth is an unremarkable planet in the solar system. For millions of years, humans have lived and thrived on this planet. Over this vast expanse of millions of years, we evolved from the animal kingdom and gradually separated from it. In a sense, modern humans have developed into the "kings of the earth," superior to the animal kingdom.
Although biological taxonomy still classifies humans as "primates," in everyday language, we have long drawn a clear line between "humans" and "animals," viewing ourselves as superior and reluctant to associate with them. Look at this: In the "zoo" humans have built, exhibits range from trilobites to chimpanzees, yet humans themselves are conspicuously absent. If we call someone a "animal," they may fly into a rage, thinking we are insulting them.
Indeed, compared to other animals—even the most "advanced" ones—humans have fundamentally different capabilities, making them incomparable. With their own strength, humans have conquered nature: leveled mountains, dug canals, reclaimed land from the sea, built a web of roads and railways, and erected towering skyscrapers. The entire surface of the earth has been transformed beyond recognition by human hands. This ambition and power leave any other animal in the dust, unable to match them. Even the fiercest and most cunning animals cannot escape being manipulated by humans, nor dare to challenge them for equal footing.
So, where does human power come from? Compared to animals, human physical structures offer no special advantages: human hands are no match for the sharp claws of tigers and leopards; human eyes lack the keenness of eagles and falcons; human feet cannot keep pace with running deer; and human ears cannot detect the ultrasonic waves that many small animals can perceive. In the words of biologists, none of human organs are "specialized," meaning none are designed for a single task. Human organs seem suited for everything, yet they excel at nothing, at least when compared to certain animals.
This "non-specialization" of human organs provides endless possibilities for development and evolution. However, relying solely on these ordinary organs would make it difficult not only to conquer nature but even to survive. Clearly, human extraordinary power does not come from the body but from the mind, from the unique thinking ability of the human brain.
French philosopher Pascal once said, "Humans are no more than reeds, the weakest things in nature. Yet, humans are capable of thought. To crush humans, the world does not need weapons; a wisp of steam, a drop of water, can kill them. But even if the world crushes humans, humans still surpass the world in one way: because humans know they will die and know in which ways the world surpasses them. The world, however, knows nothing."
Indeed, humans use the power of thought to preserve fire from natural wildfires and then kindle fires by rubbing sticks together. With thought, humans need only dig a trap and cover the entrance with grass to capture even the fiercest beasts (if beasts had thoughts, they would surely be furious!). With thought, humans first design countless wonders in their minds that do not exist in nature and then turn them into real things, allowing them to transform the entire earth. Every human action and every step of progress are closely tied to their thinking ability. Without thought, humans would not truly be human.
For this very reason, many scholars in history have naturally included "thinking ability" in the definition of "human." In ancient Greece, a philosopher, when asked "What is a human?" replied, "A hairless two-legged animal." This answer drew criticism from other thinkers. Someone plucked all the feathers from a rooster, pointed to the chicken, and said to the crowd, "Look, this is what he calls a 'human'!"